บท 32: 1-19

'His mission doesn't allow him to kill me, right?'

[Most likely. Although Host should remain careful. It is possible that it's just the system's recommendation.]

Yu Qingyu frowned, slightly confused. 'System recommendation? But then he wouldn't be required to follow it, right? If that was the case, wouldn't he still have wanted to kill me?'

[There are certain conditions that might impact the results of the missions, even when they are not stated explicitly. If they are broken, the reward for the mission might not be granted, even if the results were achieved,] 520 explained.

'Does it apply to me as well?'

[Yes, but Host doesn't need to worry. I will always inform Host of any possible conditions that might affect the mission negatively.]

'Alright then.' Yu Qingyu sighed and returned to listening to the match. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to pick up on how the game was going at all. All he could hear were the cheers of the crowd, and the judge's whistle. There was no announcer who would narrate the game.

As time went by, his eyelids started getting heavy. The warm sun on his skin made him feel relaxed, and his lack of sleep finally caught up to him.

Suddenly, an announcement from 520 rang in his ears, making his head jerk up.

[The world has been completed! Please wait a moment, your next body is being prepared and you will be transmigrated shortly.]

'Huh? Completed? 520, does that mean I succeeded?'

'520?'

However, the system was busy preparing the new mission. 520 was away, unable to respond and relay the results of the mission to its host.

Yu Qingyu quickly sneaked a glance at Liu Wei, only to see a look of confusion on his face. It seems he wasn't informed of the results either.

The minutes dragged out endlessly. Even though Yu Qingyu was a patient person by nature, right now, the anxiety was eating him up inside, and he really couldn't wait any longer!

He slowly got up, wincing from pain. His stomach still hurt a bit from the kick he received earlier, and his whole body felt a bit heavy. Was it because his time was up, or just because he was so tired?

Just as he was about to try to get back inside the stadium to check on the situation, Jiang Lu walked out. As soon as he saw Liu Wei, anger twisted his face. "You-"

Liu Wei smirked, taking it as a good sign. However, before he managed to say anything, Jiang Lu let out a long sigh, and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I should have listened to you…" He turned toward Yu Qingyu, with a tinge of guilt in his voice.

Yu Qingyu just shook his head in response, with a weak smile on his face. "Nevermind that. What about the match?"

[The preparations are complete. Transfer to a new body in 3… 2… 1…]

Yu Qingyu saw Jiang Lu's lips move, but he couldn't hear anything, as all of his senses were quickly fading. A moment later, Yu Qingyu's, or rather Fu Zhiren's, body dropped lifeless on the ground.

For a second, Jiang Lu stared at his friend in shock. He quickly recovered though, and immediately knelt down, checking on his condition. "He's not breathing!" he shouted panicked upon the realization. "Someone call the ambulance!"

Liu Wei stood right next to him, watching the scene with a dark, unreadable expression.

Seeing him unmoving, Jiang Lu snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you!? I don't know what happened between the two of you, but didn't you hear me? He's not breathing! No pulse either! He needs to be taken to the hospital, right now! Just call…"

Jiang Lu stopped mid-sentence, frozen in shock. Liu Wei, or rather Ye Chaodan, who was standing next to him, perfectly healthy, just a second ago, fell lifeless on the ground, just as Fu Zhiren did just a moment ago!

With shaking hands, he reached into his pockets, trying to find his phone. But it seems he left it in his bag, which was still at the stadium, with the rest of his teammates. Jiang Lu only meant to step out for a minute to let Fu Zhiren know the results, after all…

Jiang Lu's shouting caught the attention of a few people nearby, and soon, a crowd of gaping onlookers started to gather around. Someone called an ambulance, and soon, the sirens could be heard from the distance, gradually getting closer.

But it was too late. The two men couldn't be saved. The souls that occupied the bodies for the past four months have already drifted away, to a faraway world, leaving only the empty, lifeless shells behind.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lu was left with deep regret. Thinking only of himself, not only he didn't listen to his friend's advice, but also ignored him completely. Was Fu Zhiren sick? Must have been. After all, people don't normally die on the spot like that. And Jiang Lu didn't even know…

He would never find a friend as understanding as Fu Zhiren, he thought to himself. No one else was willing to tolerate his terrible temper to that extent. But his friend, even when he kicked him out of the team, still did his best to support him in every way he could…

In the end, he won the bet, but didn't feel happy or satisfied at all.

He sighed and took a sip of his beer. He was sitting alone at the bar, a year had already passed since the match. Having no one who'd be willing to listen to all of his complaints, he gradually became more and more withdrawn.

He didn't even lift his head when suddenly someone came over and took a seat right next to him.

"Are you gonna mop like that forever? It's not very much like you, you know?"

Jiang Lu flinched and slowly raised his hand, his reddened eyes narrowed. "What the hell do you want?" he mumbled under his nose.

Su Yongkan shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing much. Just thought that you looked quite pathetic right now. It also brings me down a bit, you know? Having my rival acting like that."

Rival? Jiang Lu's brows furrowed, forming a deep crease on his forehead. As if Su Yongkan ever saw him as a rival…

Su Yonkan pretended not to understand the meaning behind Jiang Lu's expression, and took a large sip of his beer. True, he never wanted to be Jiang Lu's rival… But oh well, it could be somewhere to start.